Visualization of the Stimuli-responsive Surface Behavior of Functionalized Wood Material by Chemical Force Microscopy.

The hierarchical and porous wood structure provides a stable scaffold to design functionalized lignocellulosic materials with extended properties by chemical modification techniques. However, proper nanoscale characterization methods for these novel materials are needed to confirm the presence of the added functionality and to locate the introduced functional groups with high spatial resolution. Chemical force microscopy is a suitable characterization method to distinguish chemical surface characteristics by scanning the samples surface with a functionalized tip.

Adhesion properties of regenerated lignocellulosic fibres towards poly(lactic acid) microspheres assessed by colloidal probe technique.

In the field of polymer reinforcement, it is important to understand the interactions involved between the polymer matrix and the reinforcing component. This paper is a contribution to the fundamental understanding of the adhesion mechanisms involved in natural fibre reinforced composites. We report on the use of the colloidal probe technique for the assessment of the adhesion behaviour between poly(lactic acid) microspheres and embedded cross-sections of regenerated lignocellulosic fibres.

Submicron hierarchy of cellulose nanofibril films with etherified hemicelluloses.

The lack of simple differentiation of all-polysaccharide-film components in nanoscale hinders unveiling their structure-property dependency. Submicron hierarchy of films of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and carbohydrate-based additives was revealed via visualization of the components by their differentiating adhesion to an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) tip. The differentiation of the film components revealed that distribution of hydroxypropylated hemicellulose in the CNF matrix could be tuned by addition of a plasticizer.

Pulp Fines-Characterization, Sheet Formation, and Comparison to Microfibrillated Cellulose.

In the pulp and paper industry different types of pulp or fiber fines are generated during the pulping (primary fines, mechanical fines), and/or the refining process (secondary fines). Besides fibers, these cellulosic microparticles are a further component of the paper network. Fines, which are defined as the fraction of pulp that is able to pass through a mesh screen or a perforated plate having a hole diameter of 76 μm, are known to influence the properties of the final paper product.

Nanopaper Properties and Adhesive Performance of Microfibrillated Cellulose from Different (Ligno-)Cellulosic Raw Materials.

The self-adhesive potential of nanocellulose from aqueous cellulosic suspensions is of interest with regard to a potential replacement of synthetic adhesives. In order to evaluate the performance of microfibrillated cellulose from different (ligno-)cellulosic raw materials for this purpose, softwood and hardwood powder were fibrillated and compared to sugar beet pulp as a representative non-wood cellulose resource, and conventional microfibrillated cellulose produced from bleached pulp. An alkali pre-treatment of woody and sugar beet raw materials enhanced the degree of fibrillation achieved, same as TEMPO-mediated oxidation of microfibrillated cellulose.